Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. We have only had one of these rare sets previously, and by any account this offering far exceeds the first in condition. This is an excellent condition U.S. M1905 bayonet dated 1908, originally made before WWI for the M1903 Springfield Rifle. It is fitted with a very good condition original M1905 leather covered scabbard, dated 1909, with the rare Type 1 modification to add a belt hanger. These are very rarely seen on today's market, especially with the hanger intact.
The M1 Garand was designed to take the same blade bayonet as the M1903 Springfield rifle, so at the beginning of WWII, many were issued with bayonets originally made for those rifles. Later in 1942 to keep up with wartime production, new orders for M1905 bayonets with plastic grips were sent out, which had plastic ribbed grips. These were also sometimes fitted to M1905 bayonets made previously that had damage to their wooden grips. This bayonet however still has its original wooden grips, and does not appear to have been reissued for WWII use.
In 1943, the specification for bayonets was changed to have a 10 inch blade, and many M1905 bayonets were shortened to this length. This bayonet however is still in the original configuration, which is rare to find on the market today. It still has the original Pre-1909 "Bright" finish on the blade, with a clear delineation between the blued grip and blade.
The blade ricasso is marked with SA for the Springfield Armory in Springfield Mass, the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until its closing in 1968. Below this is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1908. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. above serial number 349632. The blade is in great shape with a nice edge, without any major nicks we can see. The wooden grip scales are also in very nice condition, with a great color, and most of the original factory ribbed texture remaining on one of the scales.
The original M1905 Type 1 Modified Scabbard is clearly marked R.I.A. / 1909 / H.E.K. on the leather, just below the throat on the rear of the scabbard. This indicates modification at Rock Island Arsenal in 1909. The “H.E.K.” marking identifies leather goods inspector, who unfortunately has not been identified. This first type modification of the M1905 scabbard involved removing the metal hanger, and installing a leather frog with a belt clip. The frog is stamped R.I.A. / 1921, probably for the year of conversion. These are hard to find intact, as usually the hanger is gone or partially torn away. This example has some wear on the leather tip, but is otherwise in great shape, especially considering the age.
An excellent condition 16” WWI M1905 Springfield rifle bayonet by Springfield Armory, complete with an original M1905 Type 1 Modified scabbard from RIA. Ready to display with your WWI Issue Springfield M1903 Rifle!
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